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car review

Turin, in the heart of Northern Italy, is known for its exquisite cuisine, cultural ambience, lush vineyards and, of course, its cars. This is home to the headquarters of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The task at hand, though, is to drive a German-made car.

Why would Mercedes-Benz choose Italy to road-test its first mid-size sport utility coupe, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC?

“Italy stands for the beautiful things in life,” Hubert Schneider, head of vehicle testing for the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class, said during a press conference in the Aosta Valley region. “We have come to exactly the right place with the GLC Coupe. With lots of substance and an elegant appearance, our newcomer is a true all-around talent.”

Photos by Petrina Gentile

The Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe is certainly comfortable navigating this picturesque route filled with hairpin twists and turns that leave you breathless. At times, it is a little too big for these narrow roads – often, there’s barely room for one vehicle, let alone two. Sure, a Fiat 500 would be better suited to this landscape, but the GLC Coupe blends the stylish attributes of a sports coupe with the practicality and prowess of an SUV.

The sloping roofline, small rear-quarter windows, a large rear spoiler, funky dual rectangular exhaust outlets, and Mercedes’s emblem in a diamond radiator grille convey athleticism and elegance.

“In comparison to the GLC SUV, it looks even more dynamic: 76 millimetres longer, 37 millimetres lower, and with the optional mixed tires, 40 millimetres wider,” Schneider says.

Powering my tester is a diesel engine – a 200-horsepower turbo-four mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, which shifts quickly and precisely. Two-hundred ponies doesn’t sound like much but, with 369 lb-ft of torque, it has enough guts to conquer mountain passes and slow-moving vehicles on the Autostrada. You can change the driving modes easily with the touch of a button, from Eco or Comfort to Sport or Sport+. The Sport+ mode is by far the most exhilarating, making this coupe-SUV agile, sporty, and dynamic along the winding roads.

Mercedes-Benz may be a little late to the coupe-SUV party, but better late than never. Three models will be up for grabs: the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic coupe, which goes on sale this fall, the GLC 300d 4Matic coupe, which goes on sale in early 2017, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic coupe, which hits showrooms this December. Prices aren’t available, yet.

You’ll like this car if ... You want a stylish, refined ride that blends coupe lines with the practicality and space of an SUV.

TECH SPECS

Base price: TBA

Engines: GLC 300d (diesel) 4Matic: 2.0-litre turbo diesel I-4; GLC 300 4Matic: 2.0-litre turbo I-4 gas engine; Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic coupe: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V-6

Transmission/Drive: Nine-speed automatic/4Matic all-wheel drive

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): N/A

Alternatives: BMW X-4, Porsche Macan, Audi Q5

RATINGS

Looks: The design is bold and beautiful. But thick rear pillars obstruct the rear view. Even the tiny rear-quarter windows do little to improve the rear visibility.

Interior: An upscale, refined interior with everything within the driver’s reach and lots of top-notch goodies, such as a rear-view camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a large sunroof. The sloping roofline does mean less head room for rear-seat passengers.

Performance: Europeans love their diesel engines. This one is quiet, refined and sporty – especially driving in Sport+ mode. An innovative air body control system that, among other things, raises the suspension level on poor road surfaces and lowers it automatically at high speeds.

Technology: Tech features galore to keep you safe, including Distronic Plus with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert and Pre-safe Brake with Pedestrian Recognition.

Cargo: Huge trunk space – 500 litres behind the rear seats. Drop the rear-seats and it expands to 1,400.

THE VERDICT

8.5

Mercedes-Benz’s GLC Coupe is the perfect cross between the sleek styling of a coupe and the practical and spacious elements of an SUV.

The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.

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